“Canine Calming” at the Science Museum Blythe House Store
A glance at the subject line “…Guide Dogs are coming to Blythe!…” on a recent global email suggested something a little different from a leaving do or another building maintenance update - when I saw this it I had to give it my immediate attention. My colleague Laura’s family have for many years been involved with Guide Dogs UK and through their contacts helped to arrange for some very special visitors to come to the Science Museum’s storage facility in Olympia. As a Science Museum photographer with a background in documentary photography I thought this would be great event to photograph and a wonderful opportunity do something very different, so I replied to Laura’s email (within seconds) offering my services…
Guide Dogs UK doesn’t receive any Government funding to support the life changing work they do and as each dog costs around £56,800 from birth to retirement they rely heavily on their team of volunteers who assist in many capacities including attending fund-raising events with the puppies. Four volunteers came to the Museum with puppies Trez, Naylor, and Dottie who are all Guide dogs in training. Staff across the site were encouraged to attend the drop-in “Canine Calming” session where, in exchange for a donation or purchase of merchandise they could pet the puppies and chat to the volunteers about the intensive training and selection the dogs undergo and the work the successful dogs go on to do.
Scientific studies researching human interaction with dogs including at dogs in the workplace have concluded they are many benefits, improving concentration and performance, lowering blood pressure, and the biggest positive effect the lowering of the stress hormone cortisol which nurtures productivity. So our “Canine Calming” session was aptly named.
Blythe House is frequently used a film location often hosting famous actors and buzzing with film crews but I don’t think I have seen such an enthusiastic welcome as the puppies received! Throughout the two-hour visit the small meeting room was jam-packed with staff from across the various organisation who share the site, the room was constantly filled with smiling faces, laughter and the sounds of puppies at play.
